DIY: E30 Front Splitter

uKnowSergio · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2006, 01:31 AM

DIY E30 Front Splitter

I know that we did this on our m3, but its same principal for most e30's with m-tech kit, or even e36 with kit.

First:
Take off your Front Bumper.
Buy your plastic. Yellowpage's should be able to help with that.
We went to a place close to us, picked up 6mm Polycarbonate Plastic Sheet (2m x 70cm) This size will vary on different front bumpers. Cost - $70.

MAKE SUREyou measure the front bar accordingly and leave enough space for cut offs.

Second:
Masking tape one complete side of your plastic sheet.
By doing this you now can draw the splitter onto the plastic with out scratching it.

Third:
Make sure all your mesurements are right, then cut the inner side of the splitter.
Try to cut it to small and slowly sand it down to fit just right. You don't want to cut to much first time and loose it all.
Just hold it up to your bumper flat to find out what needs to be sanded down. (see pic)

Forth:
Now you have made it fit just right, and drilled the holes to connect. By doing this, mount it on and measure how much your want it to pretrude off the front bar.
WE personally just used the masking tape roll and pen. To get a perfect amount all the way around.
Then un-bolt the splitter and cut to shape.

Fifth:
Remove all tape, polish platic and bolt on for last time.

Hopefully these five steps can help you make one yourself. There is an improvement on getting the nose down in hard cornering.

Stevin · #2 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 01:05 AM

Thanks man... I've been pondering this for a while now

leggwork · #3 (**permalink**) 09-10-2006, 10:11 AM

good writeup and pics - thanks.

I was also going to use ABS on mine. It is referred to as Haircel and should only be about $40 for a 4x8 sheet of 1/8 to 3/16 thickness.

I have heard that using the chemical MEK on the edges will give it a nice smooth finish (don't know if it works on polycarbonate or not, but does on ABS). I think it slightly melts the plastic so you have to be careful in applying it.
cheers,
bruce

ANDRÜ · #4 (**permalink**) 09-19-2006, 06:12 PM

Nice write-up!

SaLto · #5 (**permalink**) 09-22-2006, 05:18 AM

One question:

How much efect have that kind of aeromod without te rest of the kit?
By the rest of the kit i mean the aerodinamicaly constructed and made underside, for maximising down force?

Or is that just cosmetic?

Andy47 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-22-2006, 01:21 PM

Nice write up, and thanks for sharing!

ANDRÜ · #7 (**permalink**) 09-23-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaLto

One question:

How much efect have that kind of aeromod without te rest of the kit?
By the rest of the kit i mean the aerodinamicaly constructed and made underside, for maximising down force?

Or is that just cosmetic?

I would say alittle of both. It certainly will help at really high speeds, but wont do too much at lower speeds. It does look VERY nice though

SaLto · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2006, 02:40 AM

Fidhle007 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-28-2006, 04:37 AM

When I went from the stock iS lip to a Rieger lip and splitter there was a noticeable difference in high-speed stability. Until I destroyed my lip and splitter...

StarkeyT22489 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 07:08 AM

how much did it cost u total for everything to make ur own lip.?

Kyle B · #11 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StarkeyT22489

how much did it cost u total for everything to make ur own lip.?

It's around $75 to $80 to do it, my buddy and I did this about 10 years ago with an 87 'iS.

It's a looks thing for sure, if you look at a real splitter on a race car you'll see that it is angled downward to provide actual downforce to the front of the car. a 6mm wedge of plastic perfectly parallel to the ground isn't going to create any downforce at all. Any 'seat of the pants' improvements you feel would make for great conversation with your psychiatrist

N2MYE30 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-06-2008, 02:40 PM

Now thats slick.

Kyle B · #13 (**permalink**) 06-07-2008, 01:19 PM

Oh, and I forgot to metion something:

If you're going to do this make sure you put enough fasteners in the splitter. I lost two fasteners in the middle of my splitter during a trip from DC to Pittsburgh. On the way home I decided to do a short high speed run on a nice open stretch of highway. At about 120mph I felt the front end of the car vibrate, then a split second later saw a black peice of plastic fly over the roof of my car. When I got home all I had left was the two ends still bolted to the front spoiler. Fun stuff